“Yes. But here's one more thing, and I'm sure this is for you.”
Karina pushed the box towards him: it contained a ring with a blue stone and a mask.
Nikto seemed to be sincerely happy:
“My mask! Is he giving it back to me?”
“I think yes.”
“And the ring? Is it just me, or does your father want to make up?”
“Yes. He wants peace. And me too. Forgive me.”
“I have nothing to forgive you!”
“For this stupid ceremony. I will do whatever you need. I swear! I will correct my mistakes!”
“You do everything. You are smart. Everything is good,” and Nikto handed her a glass of red wine.
Arel wanted to punish Karina, tie her to a post and whip her with a whip, just as he regularly did with servants. But Nikto ordered not to touch her. For the time being.
Chapter two. News from Vil
Prince Arel looked doubtfully at the plump stack of sheets.
Lis went down into the living room and, seeing the papers in Arel's hands, asked skeptically:
“Has Vil sent a book?”
Arel put aside the message:
“I won't read this,” he said firmly.
“I won't either,” replied Lis. “My tongue has not yet fully healed, and it is difficult for me to speak, let alone read such voluminous texts aloud. Or maybe he's loading you with accounting again? I see there are some numbers.”
“It looks like he sent a full report,” Arel said in confusion.
“That’s what happens when one makes a fool pray to the gods!” Lis grinned.
“Here Vil managed to white a whole book, but there is still no news from the idiot Tol!” Arel said indignantly. “He’s definitely an idiot!”
“Well, don't you know Tol? He will send his report, I'm sure,” Lis reassured him.
“Come on, I'll try to read it,” volunteered Karina, seeing that none of her friends were eager to do this.
Arel readily thrust a sheaf of sheets into her.
She took the first page:
“Sooo… Arel, well, here he describes on a whole page how happy he is that we are alive and well. And how he loves us all. And… he calls you his big brother!”
“Then don't read it,” Arel said. “Look further.”
Karina began to read. Vil described in detail how he arrived at the Castle that ill-fated day and didn’t find anyone in the main hall. How he read Arel's note, how he found the will.
“Pass it,” Arel said quickly. “I don't want to listen to this!”
“And I'm already wondering,” said Lis.